Introducing babies to tablets

[HappyCaroline]

Hey all, I'm looking for practical advice about how to introduce babies and toddlers to tablets and devices. I don't know of any resources or devices aiming to make this transition safer for very young children. Below is a summary of my thoughts so far:

• I hate the idea of my child living on a tablet / becoming addicted to flashy screens. Since 3 months old he's been obsessed and so I deliberately never treat it as a toy and try not to let him see us using our phones.

• I work in IT and data so I think it is lunacy to cut him off from access to electrical devices. I'd like him to learn valuable life skills and see devices as a tool instead of become a vegetable in front of them.

• I don't want to give him access to cocomelon etc but I'm also aware there's lots of things I would "never do" as a parent which we ended up doing to stay sane. So I want to know what I can do besides give up and play cartoons on a tablet.

• I want to know about how to make electrical devices less addictive or if there are things which can bridge the gap until he's older. Like a dumb tablet for babies or baby apps which mimic his other counting/ABC toys.

Mines got a little vtech tablet. It's just the shape of a tablet with buttons that flag and it does ABC, 123, animals. They really shouldn't be looking at a phone/tablet screen that young. Not that I'm against all screens, my TV is on all day, with 1-2 hours of cartoon stuff for little one then music usually. He's so used to it that he doesn't even look at it much now, only a few seconds here or there. He's been like that since about 8 months when he started cruising

I can’t see why you’d introduce a baby to a tablet. There is nothing they can learn on a screen that they wouldn’t learn better with human interaction and physical resources. When they are older, they will learn to use a tablet easily just like we all did.

You just need to accept that young children are hard to keep entertained and go along with it. It gets easier when they are able to play with peers and are entertained more by other children. Take them out, play games, engage with the huge variety of toys and activities that exist, sing, dance and listen to music. There’s plenty you can do instead of pacifying your child with a tablet.

Children and babies coped just fine before tablets and phones. I'm sure there are plenty of educational toys you can introduce your baby to.

I'd hold off for as long as you can. Get your tween a Nokia that texts and calls with no access to the internet and supervise internet access at home with parental controls and guards.

This! He’ll soon catch up with his peers with his IT skills !

They don't learn actual life skills on a tablet do they? They learn how to scroll.

I don't know why on earth anyone would introduce a baby to a tablet.

i allowed my kids to use a PC at about 33 months (this is the age that they understood how to use a mouse). We didn’t do tablets as I think they are the digital equivalent of baby walkers: they allow your child to move around a place they don’t understand at a speed you can’t control.

i don’t think there is a product or guidance the OP is looking for as there is no need: put a child in front of a tablet and they’ll get what to do.

If he's been obsessed since 3 months, how much do people have their screens around him? Put them away when he's with you.

How old is the now?

I think addiction is purely a predisposition thing- I’ve 4 kids, all into gaming as much, two who can walk away from them when told, two who are horrendous, absolutely have to have them taken away.

I’d love to give you an answer op, but our lives are ruled by screens. I think the most important thing is just to parent on outside screens as you intend to. Things like drawing, maths and counting (WITHOUT screens), Lego, blocks, play dough, painting etc. running about, imaginative play. kids need all these things as much, but then to keep them going and not handing over a screen to get some peace (still proud the kids can sit in a waiting room or restaurant and we can talk)

My 4.5 year old has never had a tablet and I really don’t think they are missing out as a result. And no, I don’t think I’m a superior parent as I’ve seen levelled at folk for saying this on similar threads - might not have a tablet but kens their way roon kids you tube on the tv app.

Hi, I think it would be a really good idea to reseach dopamine addiction online if you are thinking about this. It is a real thing and ruinous for kids minds and bodies, but it doesn't manifest until the teen years. Best to read about it in advance.

Ps am back because I forgot to say books and libraries and libraries and books!!! Even if they end up not being into books it’s their best start!!

Hi all, mostly what I was expecting. I'll keep reporting back on things I find as I know the whole thing is controversial so will update with any resources I find.

I am not a fan of outright banning because I believe it encourages secrecy. I agree 100% that no child NEEDS a tablet, or adult might I add. But I want my child to feel confident they know what modern technology looks like and how to engage with it on their own terms.

I'm seeing some interesting threads about children who never had any problems with tablets suddenly finding that certain things such as mario karts were highly addictive.

Lots of good examples where children use tablets to do activities with adult supervision and learn about coding and the internet etc.

@SleepingStandingUp he's 9 months and since forever is obsessed if anything so much as a lightbulb flick on

Your baby has lots of time to play on a tablet when they grow up.

Thanks all for your support. I've looked into it and decided we're going to invest in 1 tablet per room and a belt which can securely hold a "travel tablet" to ensure he is never without it. Should be good to throw out all his toys/books/days out and just stick to education via the screen.

😂 secrecy in babies and toddlers

Our DD is 18 months and she has only really used a phone/tablet to video call family abroad and for photos. We kept her TV free until very recently where she maybe has half hour of cbeebies on a weekend day.

She has plenty of toys and we have the radio on at home (Radio 4 or Absolute) and she's not missing out.

I'm uneasy about introducing tablets until she is at preschool for the many reasons including that so many children seem addicted to screens, it impacts their speech development and parents use them as babysitters.

She won't be getting a phone til secondary and no TV in bedroom.

We might be old fashioned but it seems prudent. We don't share her on social media either and are very protective of ours and her images.

One tablet per room? Are you sure that's enough? Don't forget the bathroom. I think you can get a handy strap so you can actually strap one to his head just to be on the safe side. Have fun!

This seems like the only possible logical thing to do, yes. 👍🏼

You have a 9 month old baby that's only just started eating solids and can't talk or walk. He doesn't need a tablet or a phone because it's not a useful tool for him. He's not a primary school child who's learning to code.

I see school's out....

Not really @Suhbataar. I asked for input on different attitudes to devices not lectures on how to parent my child - but it is Mumsnet so 🤷‍♀️ should have known better.

I have been looking and some useful pieces I'm seeing include making sure tablet usage isn't solitary and that it encourages interacting with adults and the world around us instead of watching videos alone. Also that devices aren't used to pacify children.

Just to clarify there have been some really helpful posts and great explanations of how some of you approach devices and why you choose to restrict them etc. I really appreciate it 😊

surely you are joking? this is one of the most bonkers things I have ever heard.

kids under 5 (and over) learn from social interaction and objects in the world, not from tablets.